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Sentencing delayed for gruesome attack on South Okanagan woman

Sentencing for the South Okanagan man accused of a gruesome sex attack on a woman has been delayed.

Crown counsel Vern Frolick said they were prepared to proceed with sentencing at the Penticton courthouse on Monday but Brian Douglas Louie told the judge that he is in the process of finding a new lawyer, having discharged the one who led him through the trial.

Louie, 34, was found guilty of aggravated sexual assault and assault causing bodily harm for an attack that took place on May 20, 2012 at a house on the Osoyoos Indian Band where he bit a woman's genitals and beat her up. He told the court he had been on an alcohol and cocaine fueled binge in the days leading up to the assault and had only five to seven hours of sleep over three days. The woman invited him to a house party and the assault occurred early in the morning as the two began to get intimate. Louie defended that the bite was accident during the trial. The woman said the assault has left her with lingering pain, post-concussion syndrome and severe anxiety.

"This is a big misunderstanding," Louie said on Monday appearing via video from Kamloops Regional Correction Centre. "This has been a nightmare to me, man."

A pre-sentence report with a psychiatric component were ready for the sentencing on Monday but a Gladue report, that can be requested when considering sentencing an offender of Aboriginal background, was not completed. Louie said he intends on requesting the matter be moved to an Aboriginal court in Vancouver. His next appearance has been scheduled for March 27 in Penticton.

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